4970 CITY HALL BLVD  
NORTH PORT, FL 34286  
City of North Port  
Meeting Minutes  
City Commission Workshop  
CITY COMMISSIONERS  
Alice White, Mayor  
Phil Stokes, Vice Mayor  
Pete Emrich, Commissioner  
Barbara Langdon, Commissioner  
Debbie McDowell, Commissioner  
APPOINTED OFFICIALS  
Jerome Fletcher, City Manager  
Amber L. Slayton, City Attorney  
Heather Faust, City Clerk  
Monday, April 22, 2024  
9:00 AM  
City Commission Chambers  
CALL TO ORDER  
Mayor White called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and provided required notifications  
regarding conducting a hybrid meeting.  
ROLL CALL  
5 - Commissioner Pete Emrich, Commissioner Debbie McDowell, Mayor Alice White,  
Vice Mayor Philip Stokes and Commissioner Barbara Langdon  
Present:  
Also Present:  
City Manager Fletcher, Deputy City Attorney Golen, City Clerk Faust, Board Specialist  
Bodmer, Police Chief Garrison, Deputy Fire Chief Herlihy, Development Services  
Assistant Director Barnes, Development Services Director Ray  
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Director Ray.  
1. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
Ms. Faust played the following voicemail into the record:  
Evelyn Emrich: Expressed support of event signage.  
In person:  
Bob Burkart: Expressed opposition of development in Activity Center 2.  
Deborah Plasencia: Expressed opposition of development in Activity Center 6.  
Commissioner Emrich stated he will be attending the hybrid meeting via  
Communication Media Technology (CMT) due to experiencing a medical condition.  
Mayor White requested a motion to approve the use of CMT for a hybrid meeting.  
A motion was made by Commissioner Langdon, seconded by Vice Mayor Emrich,  
to accept the use of CMT for a hybrid meeting.  
In response to Commission questions, Ms. Faust clarified the ability to vote on  
administrative items.  
The motion carried on the following vote:  
5 - Commissioner Emrich, Commissioner McDowell, Mayor White, Vice Mayor Stokes  
and Commissioner Langdon  
Yes:  
In person continued:  
Ariana Campbell: Expressed opposition of rezoning in Activity Center 6.  
Julia Sytsevich: Expressed opposition of rezoning in Activity Center 6.  
Josh Smith: Spoke to experience with permitting.  
Mr. Fletcher spoke to rezoning in Activity Center 6.  
There was consensus to discuss Activity Center 6 prior to Sign Regulations.  
2. GENERAL BUSINESS:  
24-0590  
Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding (1) the Draft of the Unified  
Land Development Code Chapter 5 -- Sign Regulations and Discussion  
and (2) Possible Direction Regarding Single-Family Development in  
Activity Center 6 (Yorkshire)  
Mayor White announced the item.  
Mr. Fletcher introduced the item.  
Ms. Barnes provided a presentation regarding Activity Center (AC) 6 including Policy  
2.18, 2008 Comprehensive Plan, previous AC boundary, current Comprehensive Plan,  
interim guidelines, Unified Land Development Code (ULDC), current AC boundary,  
current zoning, state law requirements for conflictions, and considerations.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding responsibility to protecting  
established areas, possible fourth option, permit restrictions, balancing tax base,  
number of permits pulled and/or existing homes, opportunity for expansion of AC on  
north or south side, financial impacts of not rezoning, areas along Yorkshire,  
permissible use, potential redevelopment, non-residential percentages by allowing  
single-family residential, Comprehensive Plan Amendment requirement, educating new  
residents of future zoning, current Sarasota County Property Appraiser zoning, AC 10  
plans, vesting, educating current property owners, and vested right versus entitlement.  
Public Comment:  
Deborah Plasencia: Expressed support of finding a compromise.  
Consensus was requested to select a modified Option 2, allowing single-family homes  
on all areas in Activity Center 6, South of I-75, except for the two areas on either side of  
Yorkshire Street.  
Recess was taken from 10:48 a.m. until 10:58 a.m.  
Ms. Barnes provided  
a presentation regarding sign regulations including review by  
outside legal counsel, Supreme Court ruling, Chapter Articles including administration  
and enforcement, sign types, sign standards, and variances, and consensus regarding  
sunset date for nonconforming signs.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding reasonable sunset  
timeframe, number of nonconforming signs, temporary versus permanent signs,  
hurricane damaged signs, personal expression signs, sign maintenance, annexation,  
and maintenance code.  
There was consensus to not require removal of nonconforming signs.  
Ms. Barnes continued the presentation regarding outdoor advertising signs (billboards)  
including existing billboards, concerns, signage examples, staff recommendation, and  
Planning and Zoning Advisory Board (PZAB) recommendation.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding sign ownership, provisions  
for annexed properties, sign regulation authority, billboard property ownership,  
residential property along I-75, and change in billboard content.  
There was consensus to allow no more than the 15 existing billboards on I-75.  
Commission questions and discussion took place regarding agenda backup, temporary  
signs in rights-of-way, legal opinion for issuing permits for special events, signage  
requirement criteria, equal protections, city advertisement of events, free speech zone,  
cost for pickup of signs, and equal consideration and restrictions.  
There was consensus to direct the City Attorney to perform a legal opinion to  
allow issuing permits for signs in the right-of-ways when the applicant has  
special event.  
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Mr. Golen spoke to subject matter expert.  
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding additional options.  
There was consensus to direct the City Attorney and staff to work together to  
provide other viable options to allow these kinds of event signage to be able to  
be placed within the City.  
Public Comment:  
Josh Smith: Expressed opposition to eliminating signage.  
Recess was taken from 12:50 p.m. until 1:00 p.m.  
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding definitions, vehicle signs,  
accessory to legally improved site, setbacks, pattern book, prohibited uses, snipe signs,  
election signs, certificate of zoning compliance, and fence signs.  
There was consensus to allow fence signs on private property.  
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding approval of sign variances,  
major/minor variance, and zoning hearing officer considerations and process.  
Consensus was requested to have Commission approve variances/modifications  
versus zoning hearing officer.  
Commission questions and discussion continued regarding review by advisory boards  
and stakeholders.  
Mr. Fletcher spoke to discussion with Bill Gunnin.  
3. PUBLIC COMMENT:  
There was no public comment.  
Commission discussion took place regarding wildlife signs.  
4. ADJOURNMENT:  
Mayor White adjourned the meeting at 2:02 p.m.  
City of North Port, Florida  
By: ___________________________________________  
Alice White, Mayor  
Attest: _________________________________________  
Heather Faust, City Clerk